About 45% of Kashmiri population experience mental distress: MSF

According to the medical humanitarian organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, nearly 1.8 million adults (45 percent of the population) in the Kashmir Valley show symptoms of significant mental distress. The findings were based on a comprehensive mental health survey conducted by MSF between October and December 2015. The research was done in collaboration with the Department of Psychology, Kashmir University and the Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (IMHANS).
 
As per the survey, a research summary of which was recently released at a symposium on mental health held at the Government Medical College in Srinagar, 41percent of people exhibit symptoms of probable depression, 26 percent show symptoms of probable anxiety and 19 percent show symptoms of probable Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The full report will be released on May 25, 2016.
   
“This survey provides, for the first time, an insight into the level of mental distress in all ten districts of Kashmir Valley. It was only made possible through a fruitful collaboration throughout the process. The next step would be to use this data and work together with key stakeholders and mental health experts to tailor healthcare services to meet the mental health needs of people in Kashmir,” said Dr Tambri Housen, MSF’s principal researcher.
 
The survey covered 5428 households in 399 villages across all ten districts of the Kashmir Valley, and was complemented by a series of in-depth focus group discussions.
 
“One crucial outcome of the focus group discussions held in each district was a clear gap in accessibility to mental health services. The main barrier to seeking treatment included lack of awareness of available mental health services. Other commonly mentioned obstacles included distance, travel time, and associated costs necessary to reach health services,” said Dr Housen.
 
The research summary underscores an urgent need to develop a comprehensive, integrated and decentralised mental health programme in the Kashmir Valley aiming at both prevention and treatment. The recommendations listed in the report call for expansion of mental healthcare services and increased sensitisation in the community for prevention and care of mental distress.